Steelers Sign C/G Fernando Velasco

ohhhhhhh finally a good news , velasco is probably the best free agent out there
was rated 11 overall center last season and the n#2 free agent center in march

http://www.walterfootball.com/freeagents2013C.php

 

Well, he hasn't played for us before... so I guess that's a start.

Looks a good pick up, though.

 

While I think Beachum did OK yesterday...I'd rather have him as the swing backup guy and not forced to start due to an injury so soon. This guy seems decent...so YAY to that...welcome aboard.

 

Dunno about the guy, but if he's better than Beachum I'm all for it. Not that I think Beachum did THAT bad, but any time you can improve your football team you take it.

So, how tough is it to learn the assignments for the offensive line? Is this something he can pick up during the week and start on Monday?

 

Just did a little digging....this off season the Titans tendered him with the second round and 2.023 mil. So they liked him quite a bit it seems. Turner who replaced him is due a base of 1 mil this year. $$$ could have been a factor there too. Either way he seems like a decent player and one of the better FA's out there at the position. I'm happy with it at this point.

 

I remember when he used to pitch for Dodgers.

 

i wonder how much we have in cap space now ..

 

got this from titans board
Was said last year that Velasco wasn't a great fit for the center position either. Good for pass, but lacked the quickness for the run.

Called "too slow footed" to be center in an offense that needs quick offensive lineman. I believe Munchak or Loggains may have even mentioned that...

EDIT:

Here it is -

Look no further than their decision this offseason to go big and heavy on the interior of their offensive line. In OLT Michael Roos and ORT David Stewart, the Titans possess one of the most consistent tackle tandems in the league. The inside was in need of a makeover, with injuries taking a toll on C Eugene Amano and ORG Jake Scott not being brought back. Heavyset OLG LeRoy Harris moved from the left side to the right side, in came the aging, decliningSteve Hutchinson as a prized, look-the-part free-agent signing and former undrafted free-agent vagabond Fernando Velasco was plugged in at center, giving the Titans three slow-footed pluggers in the middle of their line and only one lineman, Roos, with quick feet.

http://www.titansreport.com/topic/10619-titans-waive-fernando-velasco/

 

just what we need another lineman that can't run block

 

Ok I know we are trying to be positive but if this guy is so good why is he a FA for?

 

looks like he already faced the bengals

http://stripehype.com/2013/09/09/pi...fernando-velasco-bengals-already-played-year/

 

here is some game film on him

http://www.bengals.com/media-lounge...ghlights/c9ad46f4-6104-49ce-9bab-86d26de4c48d

 

What's the alternative?

Unfortunately there's no Nick Mangold's or Jeff Harting's just waiting to be signed for practically nothing out there. We need a center, and we got one that's started all 16 games and by some accounts looked alright doing so...

What more can you ask?

 

Sounds like a good pick up. Now, let this be stuck in your head the rest of the season:

[video=youtube;G8bm6XlxuCY]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G8bm6XlxuCY[/video]

 

Some people are just either stupid or spoiled or something, smh.

 

It probably didnt change much...my guess is he got the a qualifying deal for the 3-4 years he's been in the league. Not sure what that $$$ amount is...but I'm guessing in the 500-800K range...and its not guaranteed either. So it barely moved the cap at this point.

 

Ok, good move. A glimmer of hope all is not lost. Hope he is a quick study.